Real Estate, Housing & Construction
Browse published legal information questions related to Real Estate, Housing & Construction.
Husband Owns the Car and Controls Finances—What Rights Do I Have During Separation?
In Oregon, your rights during a separation usually depend on the overall financial picture, not just whose name is on the car title or who manages the bank accounts. If you are married and living separately, the law gene...
What are my rights if my apartment elevator has been broken for a month and I live on the sixth floor?
If you live in Oregon and your apartment elevator has been broken for a month, you may have tenant rights if the problem makes the building unsafe, significantly interferes with your use of the home, or suggests the land...
Can a Contractor Demand Full Payment Before Finishing the Job?
In general, a contractor cannot simply demand full payment before finishing the job unless the contract allows it or the parties later agree to a change in payment terms. In Georgia, as in many states, the written contra...
Can a Car Dealer Sell Me a Vehicle Without a Clean Title?
In general, a dealer should be able to give you clear information about the vehicle’s title status before or at the time of sale. If a title is not “clean,” that can mean the title has a brand, such as salvage, rebuilt,...
Can a Dentist Send Me to Collections While Insurance Is Still Processing?
In general, yes, a dentist may be able to send a bill to collections even if your dental insurance claim is still processing, but the answer often depends on the billing agreement, the insurer’s processing timeline, and...
Is it legal for a landlord to charge a nonrefundable application fee and never run my application?
In general, a landlord should not charge an application fee as if the application will be reviewed and then simply keep the fee without doing the promised screening, but the answer can depend on the lease paperwork, the...
Can my landlord make me pay an extra $150 a month because my adult son moved in temporarily?
In Maryland, a landlord usually cannot raise your rent just because an adult family member visits or stays temporarily, but the answer often depends on the lease, the length of the stay, and whether the person is being t...
Can I file a personal injury claim if I slipped on spilled soda at a grocery store and hurt my wrist?
In California, a grocery store slip-and-fall injury may sometimes lead to a personal injury claim if the store’s negligence played a role in the fall. A spilled soda by itself does not automatically mean the store is leg...
Do I have to preserve the device if I find a hidden camera in my hotel room?
If you find what looks like a hidden camera in a Pennsylvania hotel room, it is usually a good idea to preserve the device and the surrounding scene if you can do so safely. In general, the condition of the device, where...
Can my landlord keep my deposit because I didn’t give notice if the lease already ended?
In Virginia, the answer often depends on what the lease says, whether the tenancy truly ended, and whether the landlord can point to a lawful reason to keep some or all of the deposit. If the lease ended and you simply m...
What happens if several small damage incidents are added together over six months?
In Minnesota, several small damage incidents may sometimes be considered together, but not automatically. Whether they are “added together” usually depends on the legal claim, the facts, and how the incidents are connect...
How do I handle a solar panel company that promised savings but my electric bill went up?
If a solar company promised that your electric bill would go down but it went up instead, the first step is usually to review exactly what was said, what was written, and how the system is performing. In general, a highe...
How do I deal with a contractor who installed the wrong countertops and won’t replace them?
If a contractor installed the wrong countertops and refuses to replace them, the situation usually turns on the contract, the written specifications, any change orders, and the proof you have that the installation did no...
What happens if my spouse bought a car during the marriage but titled it only in their name?
In Louisiana, a car bought during a marriage may still be treated as part of the marital property picture even if the title lists only one spouse’s name. Title alone does not always control ownership questions, especiall...
What are my rights if a contractor damages my property and refuses to fix it?
If a contractor damages your property and then refuses to correct the damage, you may have several possible rights under Alabama law, depending on the contract, the facts, and the type of damage involved. In general, a c...